Infant crib ventilation control



March l0, 1953 l. s; NETEL 2,630,584

INFANT CRIB VENTILATION CONTROLJ Filed March 29, 1950 s@ MMM yy@ ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INFANT -cm VENTILATION coNTnoL `Isidore S.Netel, Brooklyn, 1N. Y. Application Marchza 1950, Serial No. 15255-6 4 claim-s. (c1. 5-100) This invention relates to vchil'drens furniture such as crib beds and the like and more particularly to crib beds with adjustable rotatable `slats or Venetian blinds. The conventional type of crib bed :provides one side which the parent may slide `in a vertical plane to facilitate movingthe baby into and out of the crib. The sides of the crib are usually constructed with non-adjustable cross-"bars which are spaced to allow the proper view of the child.

HoWeven'experience has proven that the rigid cross-bar construction is'often detrimental to the safety-of the child. Children, although under the age of one year, have sulicient strength to grasp the cross-bars to lift themselves to a standing position. When this action occurs before the walking period, the possibility of injury `when the child falls isalways present.

Thus, it is desirable to design a crib-bed side whichwill allow proper viewoi the child when a parent is present and `still contain a 4construc- .'tion which will prevent the child from climbing when the parentis not `within viewingdistance .of theinfant.

A further undesirable" feature of the conventional crib is the complete 'lack ofdra-ft control through the sides. Since the `cross-bars 'are rigid, no means for radjustment can rbe made to alter the amount of` breeze or draft which Will reach the child.

Accordingly, fan object `of my invention is to `provide a crib bed=with simultaneous adjustable slats lWhichpw-hen moved to a closed position, .will present a smooth Wall to the child and prevent fhimf-from being able-to grasp Aand climb.

Another object ofi-my invention is `to provide fan larticle of childrens `furniture:with `one side @having apluralityof spaced slat assemblies which are rotatably mounted and simultaneouslyadjustabla the `slats having-rounded edge ends to iprevent the child from `cutting fhimself..

Another object of my invention is vto .provide .a crib bed, one -side `of which may 'be sliolably imounted, which has adjustable slats 1in oneor several sides.

' Another object Aof myinvention is toprovide a crib bed :with `a .iside that may b e adjusted to control the amountoi draft Von the child.

- A Yfurther object fof my invention-is to .incor- :wporate the vcrib bed with aVenetian` blind ar- `rangement made of transparent plastic slats.

A stillV further object of my invention isV to ;provide an article of childrens furniture von `which rotatableslats may be `mounted and with approgpriate mechanism to controltheir-position.

er o 'ect of myinvention is V"longitudinal side edges `may also` -be roundedy Knot hown) 2 of a crib bed vare easily controlled and'positioned to permit the proper amount of air `or draft to enter therein.

Other objects of my invention willappear in the following description. The invention con-` sists of the novel combination and arrangement of units to be hereinafter described.

The invention will1 be best understood by 4reference to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred forr-nof construction. In thevarious drawings, like numerals referto #similar parts:

Figure la is a perspective viewof a cri-b,`sh'ow ing Venetian blind slats and control'units in open position.

Figure 1b is a fragmentary end -view of AFigure la showingthe Venetian blinds and control. unit in closed position.

Figure 1c is afragmentary end view similar to Figure lb showing a modication -in the control unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective .View .of Venetian 'blind slats and control unit in open (solid --linesland closed (dotted lines) positions.

Figure s shows aV perspective-viewof Venetian blind slats and a `mod ied form rof control unit in open (solid lines) and .clQsedldotted lines) positions.

`Referring to `Figuren:1 the invention is embodied in a crib bed comprising two ends Il and l2 with .two metallic vertical bars l5 `and `It rigidly ymounted on each end thereof ,toractas guides for raising and lowerirlgne sideof the crib, the mechanism of which is .Well known in the art. My invention may b e' embodied inl either side or on ends I I and '|2- of the crib butin uligure 1a only one movable side isf shown `with `-my invention.

The frame of the movable-side embodying my f'inventi-on is comprised of two crosspieces `I 9 and The `plastic `rtranspargvant Venetian blind slats Alida, lhe, etc, ,have-straight rods 23a, b,. c, etc.. mounted 45.

at the @emersi theirgrighi endsrrespectivelaand .straight rods 24a, b, c, `etc., mour 1 t edatthe'center of their left endsrespectively.

The slats i8 are constructed cfa thinirectllgular plastic or any other `suitable material. The ends thereof are Vpreferably rounded as noted `in Figures 2 and 3 so that the child will not beendangered by any sharp edges. j As a further precaution against exposingfthe child vto edges, uthe illustrates the termination as a lever` arm 27 Y which will be hereinafter described. A continuous chain 28 engages the sprocket Wheels 26a, b, c, etc. between vertical connection 2| and sprocket wheels 26a, b, c, etc. The washers 29d, b, c, etc. are used to position Venetian blinds I8a, b, c, etc. to prevent excess horizontal movement.

The top bar 23a of slat I8a has a round knob 46 rigidly attached to it on the right of sprocket 26a. The knob 46 is provided with a plurality of holes 46a, 46h, 46c, etc. cut into its circumference as noted in Figures la and 1b. Latch hook 32 is mounted on cross bar I9 and is of such construction and position as to be able to engage and lock with any one of the plurality of holes 46a or 46h, etc. depending only on the position of knob 46.

' The round knob 46 is provided with a rigidly attached handle 54 to aid the operator in moving or controlling the position of the slats. A second knob 52 may be mounted on the left end of slat I8a. The knob 52, with a rigidly attached handle 56, is rigidly mounted on the left extension of bar 24a. Thus, the operator may use knobs 46-54 and 52-56 simultaneously to adjust the position of the slats I8.

A continuous chain 28 is positioned to engage all the sprocket wheels 26 to permit relative motion between these two parts. A U-shaped protective housing 53 is mounted between the cross bars I9 and 20. The housing 53 is so positioned that protection to the baby is provided against possible contact with the chain 28 and associated sprocket wheels 26. The housing 53 is made in a U-shaped manner so that the outside of the chain mechanism 28 may also be covered to protect the operator from possible contact and also for protection to the chain mechanism. A cutaway section 55 is provided in the uppermost portion of the housing 53 to permit the operator easy access to the control knob 46-54.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and 1b is as follows:

It the Venetian blind slats I8a, b, c, etc. are in a closed position as illustrated in Figure 1b and the operator wishes to open the blinds I8a, b, c, etc., the latch hook 32 is removed from hole 46a, and the knob 46 is rotated by hand in a counterclockwise position. This causes the simultaneous counterclockwise rotation of rigidly attached rod 23a, and sprocket 26a. This counterclockwise rotation of sprocket 26a is transmitted to the continuous chain 28 which in turn rotates the other sprocket wheels 26h, c, etc. counterclockwise. Since all the sprockets 26a, b, c, etc. are rigidly attached through extension rods 23 to the slats I8a, b, c, etc., respectively, these slats will also rotate. Thus, a 90 counterclockwise rotation of knob 46 will result in a similar 90 counterclockwise rotation of all slats I8a, b, c, to the open position indicated in Figure la. The slats may be secured Vor locked in this open positionH byjnsertionof.latch.hook,32 in the appropriate hole of knob 46 as observed in Figure 1ct.

The operator may close the slats by removing latch hook 32 from the hole of knob 46 and rotating the knob 46 clockwise from the open position of Figure la to the closed position of Figure 1b and lock slats in position by engaging latch hook 32 in hole 46a. If the operator wished to position the Venetian blind slats I8 at any angle other than the extreme opened and closed position, the latch hook 32 may be inserted in any one of the plurality of holes 46h or 46c etc. to obtain any desirable tilt of the slats I8.

The position of slats I8 in the horizontal open position of Figure 1a results, following a 90 rotation, in a vertical alignment of the slats when in the closed position of Figure 1b. However, if it is the desire of the manufacturer, the slats may be positioned so that each Slat overlaps its adjacent slat (not shown). This could be obtained with the same control mechanism, the only change being a small tilt on the slats when they are in open position. Y

A modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figure 1c. In this embodiment, the extreme top and bottom straight rods 23a and 23h are still terminated in sprocket wheels 26a and 26h as illustrated in Figure la. However, all the other rods 23h, c, etc. have a rigidly attached lever arm 2lb, c, etc. as illustrated in Figure lc.

As will hereinafter be described, this method has the same smooth operation as the previous embodiment but has the advantage of replacing the expensive sprockets with economical lever arms. Each lever arm is mounted at an angle with respect to slats I8 and at all times has both of its ends linking the continuous chain 28 as noted in Figure 1c. Thus, when the lever arms 27 of Figure 1c are rotated by the continuous chain 28 through an angle to the position of lever arm 27 shown in Figure la, the slats I8 are rotated through the same angle. The opening and closing of the slats I8 is controlled by knob 46 and is essentially the same as heretofore described in connection with the embodiment of Figure la and Figure 1b.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of my invention which permits the smooth control of the Venetian blind slats and eliminates the continuous chain 28. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the plurality of spaced slats are all attached and controlled in the same manner and, therefore, the description will'be given in connection with only one slat or blind.

The right end of the Venetian blind I8 has a double-bent crank 33-34-35 mounted in the center of the right end instead of the straight rod 23 as heretofore described in connection with Figure la.

Extension 35 of crank rod 33-34-35 is rotatably mounted in the groove 5I of control lever 36. It should be noted that if extension 35 of crank rod 33--34-35 rotates through a 90 circle arc that the member 33 -of this unit and the slat I8 will also rotate through 90 but will rotate about their own axis. `Control lever 36 is guided by two cam units 3'I and 38 which guide this 90 rotation of the crank arm 33-34--35- Cam units 3l and 38 with 90 arc grooves 39 and 40, respectively, are rigidly mounted to the to the cross bars I9 and 20, respectively. The arc grooves 39 and 40 are provided with key holes 39a, b, c, d, and 40a, b, c, d to be used to hold extension guides 36a and 36o in place as will hereinafter be described. The vertical control lever 36 is provided with rigidly attached extension guides 36a and 36h and a rigidly attach'\ decided handle and foot 'pedal control 36e-and 36d, respectively. f

'I'he solid lines of Figure 2 illustratethe position of the 4control parts when Y the Venetian blinds I8 are in the open position. In order to close the slats I8, the parent or operator of the crib' beams-st lift controllever 3s by means `of handleilicor pedal 38d. An upward force on control lever 36 will cause it to follow in a clockwise 90 arc due to the cam action between arc grooves 39 and 49 and extension guides 36a and 36h, respectively, and still allow the lever to remain in a vertical position.

This 90 arc travel is translated from control lever 36 to extension 35 of the crank rod 33-34 35. Since the extension 35 is an integral part of the crank rod 33-34-35, the bar 33 rotates 90 about its axis, translating this motion directly to the Venetian blind slat I8. This causes the blinds to move to the closed position shown by dotted lines of Figure 2. The slats are now held in this closed position due to the locking action which results when the extension guides 36a and 361) rest in key holes 39a and 40a., respectively.

In order to perform the reverse operation of changing the position of the slats I8 from the closed position to the open position, the operator must lift the control lever 3B a short distance to allow the extension guides l36a and 36h to become disengaged from key holes 39a and 40a respectively. When this preliminary operation is completed, the control lever 36 is moved slightly to the left and then lowered by means of either handle 35e or pedal 36d. The cam guide action due to inter-action of extension guide 36a and 36h in arc grooves 39 and 40 respectively, will now cause a 90 counter-clockwise rotation of all parts and bring the slats I8 to the open position indicated by the solid lines of Figure 2.

I have heretofore described the operation of movement of parts for either of the extreme cases, opened or closed slats. However, by resting the extension guides 36a and 36h in grooves 39h and 40h respectively, or 39o and 4|Jc respectively, any desirable position or slant of the blinds I8 may be obtained.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of my invention. In this arrangement, the frame of the cross bar I9 and 20 and vertical connections 2| and 22 and the slats I8 and crank rods 33-34-35 all have the same conguration and arrangement as heretofore described in connection with Figure 2. However, a vertical guide rod 4I is rigidly mounted between the cross bars I 9 and 20. The rectangular control cam unit 42 has a vertical square key way 50 cut through its entire length to permit it to be slidably mounted on the rigid vertical guide rod 4I. Thus, the movement of the control cam unit 42 is restricted to vertical travel. A plurality of arc grooves 43 are cut into the control cam unit 42 and have the extensions 35 of crank rods 33-34-35 slidably mounted therein. The right end of the extensions 35 have knobs 35a to prevent them from sliding out of the arc grooves 43. A latch 45 is mounted on cross-bar I9 and a plurality of latch holes 44, 44a, and 44h are provided in the control cam 42 to permit the Venetian blind slats to be locked in position as will hereinafter be described. The control cam unit 42 is provided with rigidly mounted handles 42a and 42h to aid the operator in translating vertical motion to it.

The solid lines of Figure 3 illustrate the position of the various control parts when the Venetian blind slats I8 are in the open position. In

v(.uderto close the slats I{8',`theopcratorfrases' the control` cam unit 42 by `means or `hin'idle-Wa or'4`2'l. This upward motion ofthe arc grooves 43 guides the extension 35' into counter-clockwise rotation of a maximum-swing of this inta tion is translated directly through rod 33 toslats I8 andrurges the slats I8 into the closed position noted by the dotted lines ofV Figure 3f `When the control cam unit 42 has reached its uppermost position, indicating a 90 rotation of crank arm 33-34-35, the latch key 45 is urged into the latch hole 44 to permit the slat I8 to be held in the closed position.

When the operator wishes to change the position of the slats from the closed position of the dotted line to the open position of the solid lines, hook 45 is moved from hole 44 and the control cam unit 42 is lowered by means of handle 42a or 42h. The downward motion of the arc grooves 43 translates clockwise arc rotation to the extension 35. When the control cam 42 reaches its lowermost position, the extension 35 will have rotated through an arc of 90 and will cause bar 33 and slat I8 to rotate 90 about their axis. This will bring slats I8 to the open position indicated by solid lines in Figure 3.

If the operator does not wish to have Venetian blind slats entirely open or closed, the control cam 42 may be held in any number of positions between its upper and lowermost position by engaging the latch hook 45 with latch hole 44a or 44h. Thus, any desirable tilt of the slats I8 may be obtained to give the proper amount of ventilation.

It is to be observed that the movable side wall or stationary side of the crib may incorporate any one of the foregoing embodiments or a combination of them. It is possible to have one embodiment to operate the upper series of slats and the same or one of the other embodiments controlling the lower set of slats. I have illustrated and described the preferred construction of my invention, but this is capable of variations and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire to be covered by the variations and modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. An enclosure for infants comprising a plurality of sides, one of said sides being slidable with respect to the others of said sides, said one side having a plurality of rotatable slats, means for simultaneously rotating said slats comprising a manually rotatable knob, said knob being provided with detent means for holding it in a selected rotated position.

2. A device as set forth in claim l wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of sockets in said knob, and a latch member movably engageable with each of said sockets.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for manually rotating said slats comprises respective sprocket elements for said slats and a continuous chain around said sprocket elements.

4. An enclosure for infants comprising a plurality of sides, one of said sides being slidable with respect to the others of said sides, said one side having a plurality of rotatable slats, means for simultaneously rotating said slats comprising a manually rotatable knob, said knob being provided with detent means for holding it in a assess@ REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,694 Barton May 30, 1882 2,092,673 Kempf Sept. 7, 1937 Lehman Sept. 14, 1943 

